510/600
Bell’s telephone patent was rejected by Western Union as useless.

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell sought to sell his telephone invention patent to Western Union for a sum of $100,000. However, the company rejected the offer, considering the telephone to be little more than a toy and of no practical use to them.

509/600
Grand Wizzard Theodore invented scratching accidentally while stopping a record.

In 1975, Grand Wizzard Theodore invented DJ scratching by accident. While mixing records at his home, his mother scolded him for playing music too loudly. This led him to stop the record and accidentally shift it back and forth. The sound he created became the iconic DJ technique known as “scratching.”

508/600
Alice Roosevelt’s bold and unconventional behavior became well-known while her father was president.

Alice Roosevelt with her dog Leo. She was known for her rebellious streak—smoking cigarettes in public, chewing gum, placing bets with bookies, riding in cars with men, and staying out late partying. She even had a pet snake named Emily Spinach, which she often wore wrapped around her arm and took to social events. Her father, President Theodore Roosevelt, is well-known for saying, “I can either run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both.”

507/600
In 1919, a man built a 40-foot skyscraper scam.

In 1919, J.D. McMahon convinced investors to fund a 480-foot skyscraper, but he labeled the plans as 480 inches, building a 40-foot structure instead. After taking $200,000, he won in court since the plans matched what he built.

506/600
Alanis Morissette’s third album became a top-selling global success.

After the first two albums by Alanis Morissette didn’t perform well, her record label let her go. However, her third album, Jagged Little Pill, skyrocketed in success and became one of the 15 best-selling albums globally.

505/600
Nathan’s hired “doctors” to promote hot dog safety in 1916.

In 1916, Nathan Handwerker, the founder of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, employed men to pose as doctors and eat his hot dogs outside his stand. This tactic was used to reassure the public of the product’s quality and safety, ultimately boosting the brand’s reputation.

504/600
Cricket legend Compton forgot his age and kit, used antique bat.

Denis Compton, an English cricket legend known for his absent-mindedness, once played a match using an antique bat from a museum after forgetting his kitbag. During his 70th birthday celebration, his mother famously corrected everyone, revealing he was actually only 69.

503/600
Judge Judy earned $47 million annually, refusing salary negotiations outright.

Judge Judy earned $47 million annually for her role on “Judge Judy.” In an interview, she revealed that every three years, she would present her salary request to the CBS TV Distribution President. On one occasion, when he offered her a counterproposal in an envelope, she refused to open it, stating, “This isn’t a negotiation.”

502/600
Sattar Buksh café won a lawsuit against Starbucks over logo parody.

In Karachi, Pakistan, a man named Sattar Buksh opened a café with a logo resembling Starbucks but featuring his own face. When Starbucks sued, he argued that the logo depicted his name and likeness. The court sided with him, allowing Sattar Buksh Café to continue operating.

501/600
Palm trees are grasses with strong trunks, not true trees.

Palm trees are actually part of the grass family, not true trees. They don’t have the woody growth that real trees do. Instead, they grow in a different way that makes their trunks strong. This is why they are considered more like big grass plants.